Dementia is not so common a condition but is prevalent in a society where majority of people are aged 65 and above. For example, there are more than 5.4 million people in America living with dementia. Out of these people, 5.2 million are aged 65 and above whereas only 200, 000 individuals are aged 65 and below. The available statistics on Dementia in America shows that one in every nine individuals live with Dementia (MacKinlay, 2012). The researchers on Dementia predict that cases of Dementia are likely to increase because the baby boom generation has reached 65 years and beyond now. Therefore, the number of people living with Dementia is likely to get to 13.8 million in America alone by the year 2050.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of Dementia but there are a number of other types of Dementia. Alzheimer’s disease affects memory first and later progresses to affect speech, reasoning and movement. Vascular or Multi-Infarct Dementia often results because of stroke where some areas of the brain are irreversibly damaged. The onset of this type of Dementia is sudden and symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected. Dementia with Lewy Bodies leads to a reduced cognitive ability, hallucinations, movement problems and delusions (Tooth, 2014). Lastly, the Frontotemporal Dementia affects personality and speech but does not have any effect on an individual’s memory. Moreover, there are less common types of dementia that include: Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, Dementia in HIV/Aids and Traumatic Brain injury.
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Dementia occurs in stages. Stage one has an individual functioning normally. The second stage of Dementia is characterized with normal forgetfulness. An individual tend to forget people’s names and are fond of asking them names. The third stage involves increased forgetfulness, difficulty in finding concentration and a reduced work performance (Loveday, 2012). The fourth stage has individuals experiencing increased difficulty in finding concentration, doing their work, and a reduced memory of recent events. The individuals often find it risk to walk or do things alone. The fifth stage has individuals xperiencing major memory deficiencies and increased need of assistance to do their normal day duties like dressing, bathing and preparing meals. The sixth stage requires extensive assistance as they cannot do their daily duties by themselves (Alz.Org). They forget almost everybody and everything and thus live a desolate life. In fact, the individuals find it hard to even count from 10 backwards. Lastly, stage seven has individuals having no ability to communicate. Therefore, they are in need of urgent help to even do things like using the toilet and eating. The individuals often lose psychomotor skills and are unable to walk. This stage can last for more than 2.5 years.
The Alzheimer’s disease is officially listed as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Statistics show that among the people aged 70 and above, 61% of those with Alzheimer’s disease are expected to die before the age of 80. Relatively, those who live without Alzheimer’s disease have least chances of dying than those with this condition. In 2013, 84, 000 Americans died of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the people living with any type of Dementia need to be accorded adequate help to cope with the challenges that come with the condition. However, statistics show that 15.9 million Americans provided 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care to those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Therefore, there is need for more advanced and effective ways of caring the aged and those living with Dementia. The only way to assure old people best living is to guarantee them help to find more stability in their lives.
Conclusion
Dementia is a common condition especially among the aged. The people aged 65 and above have increased chances of getting Dementia. Therefore, they need help to continue their lives with reduced effects from the condition (Tooth, 2014). There are many things that can be done to give excellent, cheap and effective care to the old people living with Dementia in society. First, it is important for people to exercise close ties within families and among members of the society. Through this, the old people will find love and never feel isolated. Therefore, the chances of them experiencing health conditions such as depression reduce (Ashby-Mitchell, 2017). Moreover, it becomes simple and effective in presenting old people with timely and proper healthcare help. For example, they can be screened for all forms of cancers and be given relevant health help where necessary. Consequently, this move will completely eradicate the notion and feelings of neglect from the young people in society.
References
Ashby-Mitchell, K., Kimberly, B., Burns, R. & Shaw, J. (2017). Proportion of Dementia in Australia Explained by Common Modifiable Risk Factors. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 9( 1), 1-8.
Loveday, B. (2012). Leadership for Person-Centered Dementia Care . London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
MacKinlay, E. (2012 ). Finding Meaning in the Experience of dementia: The Place of Spiritual Remiiscence Work. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Tooth, L. & Mishra, G. (2014). Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Trajectories of Caring by Young and Mid-Aged Women: A Cohort Study. BMC Public Health, 14 (1), 1-23.
What is Dementia? Alz.Org. Retrieved on March 2, 2017 from
http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp
Annotated Bibliography
Tooth, L. & Mishra, G. (2014). Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Trajectories of Caring by Young and Mid-Aged Women: A Cohort Study. BMC Public Health, 14 (1), 1-23.
This article discusses the issues that impede the provision of relevant and effective care to aged persons living with conditions such as Dementia. The factors include the young person’s or women’s socioeconomic status, health status and behavioral characteristics. The study focuses on 14,202 women born between 1973 and 1978 and 12,282 women born between 1946 and 1951. The former class of women showed more varying and transitional caring trajectories than those of the 1946-51 cohort.
Ashby-Mitchell, K., Kimberly, B., Burns, R. & Shaw, J. (2017). Proportion of Dementia in Australia Explained by Common Modifiable Risk Factors. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 9 (1), 1-8.
This article admits that Dementia has no known cure. Therefore, the focus in controlling this condition is on reducing its prevalence. However, the article argues out that Dementia can be substantially controlled when individuals learn to stay away from midlife obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, low educational attainment, diabetes mellitus, midlife hypertension and depression.
Loveday, B. (2012). Leadership for Person-Centered Dementia Care . London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
This text proposes proper care for persons with dementia as a way to show care and assure them a decent living. The caregivers ought to be educated individuals who can show those living with Dementia their weakness, strengths and needs. Therefore, caregivers should provide leadership roles and direct the victim’s thoughts only to the positive side of life.
MacKinlay, E. (2012 ). Finding Meaning in the Experience of dementia: The Place of Spiritual Reminiscence Work . London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
This text argues out that spiritual reminiscence can help individuals with Dementia heal or reduce the impact of this condition. For instance, spiritual reminiscence makes it possible for the people living with dementia to focus on their positive side of life and interact with those around them. Consequently, designing a program whereby people with dementia think of past things with fondness can be a way to offer help to victims of dementia.
What is Dementia? Alz.Org. Retrieved on March 2, 2017 from
http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp
This website defines dementia as all conditions that tend to reduce memory and tamper with normal body’s functioning. The areas affected include communication, memory and speech among others. The causes vary depending on the type of dementia. However, dementia is mainly caused by any damage to brain cells. Individual living with dementia experience depression and can easily get into more risk especially when they are alone. Therefore, this website calls for close and effective care to persons living with dementia.
